Illuminated light pull cord



Sept. 27, 1960 c. J. RANFIELD 2,954,460

ILLUMINATED LIGHT PULL CORD Filed Dec. 25, 1957 INVENTOR. Gkar/es Jfia/zf/e/d ILLUMINATE'D LIGHT PULL com) Charles J. Raniield, 305 W. 13thSt., Kansas City 5, M0.

Filed Dec. 23, 1957, Ser. 'No. 704,389

1 Claim. 01. 240-78) This invention relates to electrical lightingsystems and, more particularly, to improvements in same forautomatically providing a low power, illuminated indicator of thelocation of a switching control whenever the latter is so conditionedthat the main light or lights are extinguished.

An important object of the invention is to provide, in a lighting systemincluding a fixture having a light producing device therein and amanually operable switch for con trolling the operation of the device,means mechanically coupled with the switch for use in actuating the sameand including a low wattage consuming, i-lluminable lamp electricallycoupled by the means with the switch, whereby the lower power lamp willbe energized to indicate the location of the switch actuating means forthe main lighting device whenever the latter is deenergized.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention to be described for purposesof illustration, the indicatorlamp may be in the nature of a neon bulbor other low power, glow discharge apparatus, while the switch operatingmeans may comprise a pair of insulated conductors which serve both as aswitch operating pull cord with the indicator lamp suspended thereon andas the conductive means for effecting electrical connection with theindicator lamp. It will be understood by those skilled in the art,however, that, in a broader sense, the invention contemplates a varietyof possible arrangements, in some of which the indicator lamp might bedisposed adjacent a wall switch or the like rather than suspended from apull cord, in others of which the switch might be disposed with theindicator lamp in an assembly suspended by wires from the main lightfixture, etc.

Further objects of the invention will be made clear or become apparentas the following description thereof progresses,

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a preferred form of lightingfixture, switching assembly and combination pull cord and indicatormeans, as contemplated by the invention, parts being broken away andshown in section;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a portion of thestructure shown in Fig. 1, with the fixture broken away to show theinternal arrangement of parts; and

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical aspects of theinvention.

It has long been a problem for persons entering a darkened room to findthe switch for operating the lighting system to illuminate the room,particularly where the switch or the actuating means therefor includes apull cord or the like which is. suspended from a ceiling fixture in themiddle of the room. Broadly, this invention contemplates the provisionof an auxiliary, low power consuming lamp adjacent or forming a part ofthe switch or actuating means therefor which will automatically beenergized whenever the switch is so conditioned that the main lightingsystem for illuminating the room is deenergized.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, and particularly Fig. 1thereof, the numeral generally desigtates atent 1 nates an illustrativeform of light fixture mounted upon a ceiling 12 and broadly including ahollow base portion 14, a socket portion 16 having a conventionalelectric light bulb 18 therein and a translucent shade 20 mountedthereon. Also mounted on the base 14 is an electrical switch generallydesignated 22 which may be of the type having a pull chain 24 adaptedfor shifting the working parts thereof between alternate positionsthereof.

A lever assembly generally designated 28 is pivotally mounted upon abracket 30 secured to the base 14 and has a short arm 32 secured to thechain 24 and a long arm 34 extending laterally from the base 14.Conductive means generally designated 36, which may comprise apair ofseparate conductors encased in a flexible insulating cover emerge fromthe base 14 through an opening 38 therein, are physically connected tothe long arm 34 of the lever 28 adjacent the outermost end thereof byclamp means 40, and depend therefrom to a position within the reach of aperson entering the room containing the fixture 10. At the bottom of theconductive means 36 is fastened a pull knob assembly 42 having atranslucent portion 44 for exposing to view illumination from a neonbulb or the like housed Within the assembly 42.

Referring next to Fig. 2, the details of certain parts and connectionsnormally enclosed within the base 14 of fixture 16 are illustrated. Itwill be seen from such figure that the socket portion 16 has coupledtherewith a pair of conductors 50 and 52 for supplying energy to themain illuminating bulb or device 18, and that the conductive means 36includes a pair of separately insulated conductors 54 and 56.

The electrical connections between the various parts of the apparatusutilized in the invention will be more clear from Fig. 3, and referenceis made at this time to such schematic diagram. The numerals and 102designate the two sides of an electrical power supply main. One of theconductors leading tothe main lighting device 18 through the socket 16is coupled with power line 100 by the conductor 50. The conductor 52leading to the other side of the lamp 18 is coupled with a stationarycontact 142 of the switch 22, which it will be seen is of the singlepole, double throw type and includes, besides the contact 142, a contact144 and a pole piece 46 which is alternately engageable with thecontacts 142 and 144. It will be understood that each time a pull isexerted upon the chain 24, the pole piece 46 shifts out of engagementwith the contact 142 or 144 with which it has previously been engagedand into engagement with the other of such contacts 142 and 144. Polepiece 46 is coupled by a conductor 58 with the power line 102.

The conductor 54 which forms a part of the conductive means 36, iscoupled with the conductor 50 by means of a conductor 60 whichpreferably has connected in series therewith a current limiting resistor62. Similarly, the conductor 56 of conductive means 36 is coupled withcontact 144 by means of a conductor 64 which preferably has connected inseries therewith a limiting resistor 66. It will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that one or both of the limiting resistors 62 and 66could be omitted, if desired, but they are preferably provided in orderto limit the amount of electricity whichmay pass along the conductors 54and 56 to a value which would not be lethal or dangerous to a personcoming in contact therewith when pulling upon the assembly 42, even inthe event that the insulation upon one or both of the conductors 54 and56 had been cut or worn to a point where the person might make contacttherewith.

Disposed within the assembly 42 and adapted to be viewed through thetranslucent portion 44 of the latter, is a glow discharge lamp 68, whichmay be in the form of a conventional, low wattage neon bulb.

Considering now the operation of the apparatus, it will be seen thatwhen the pole piece 46 of switch 22 is in the position illustrated inFig. 3, an energizing circuit for the main light producing bulb ordevice 18 is completed from power line 1% through conductor 5%, lamp 18,conductor 52, contact 142, pole piece 46, and conductor 58 to power line162. This is the normal condition of the apparatus when the room isilluminated'by the lighting device 18. it will be observed that, at thistime, the circuit to the glow discharge lamp on is broken, as there isno necessity for the lamp 6% being energized at this time.

Upon a person exerting a pull on the assembly 42, such pull will betransmitted by the physical connection of the conductive means 36 witharm 48 of lever 28 to the latter, and such lever 28 will be swung uponthe bracket 39 to move arm 32 for exerting an increasing pull upon thechain 24. Upon the chain 24 being thus pulled, the pull piece 46 ofswitch 22 will be shifted past a dead center or toggling position andwill move out of engagement with the contact 142 and into engagementwith the contact 144, where it will remain until the chain 24 is againpulled.

Upon shifting of the pole piece 4-6 out of engagement with the contact142, the above traced energizing circuit for the lamp 155 will be brokenand the main lighting device 18 deenergized. The movement of pole piece46 into engagement with the contact 144 will complete an energizingcircuit for the neon or other glow discharge lamp 6% traceable frompower line 1% through conductor 50, conductor 69, limiting resistor 62,conductor 54, lamp 68, conductor 56, limiting resistor 66, conductor 64,contact 144, pole piece 46 and conductor 58 to power line 102.

With the glow discharge lamp 68 thus energized, it will be easy for aperson entering the otherwise darkened room to quickly locate the pullassembly 142 because of the radiations from the energized lamp 63emanating through the translucent portion 4.4 of assembly 42. Thus, aperson may walk directly to a position for pulling upon the assembly 42to operate the chain 24 and switch 22, which will result in shifting ofthe pole piece i6 into engagement with the contact 142 and theenergization of the main lighting device 18.

It will thus be apparent that the invention is adapted for accomplishingthe above mentioned and other worthwhile objects. It will also beapparent, however, that a number of minor modifications or changes couldbe made from certain details of the construction shown and described forillustrative purposes without departing from the true spirit andintention of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be understood that theinvention should be limited only by the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

in electrical lighting apparatus, a ceiling fixture having a hollow baseportion and a socket portion; a filament type electric lamp mounted insaid socket portion of the fixture and having a pair of electricalterminals; a single pole, double throw switch mounted on said baseportion of the fixture and having a pair of contacts, a pole pieceadapted for engagement alternately with the contacts and an actuatingchain operably coupled with said pole piece for shifting the latterbetween said contacts; an L-shaped lever assembly pivotally mounted onsaid base portion of the fixture and provided with a first leg operablycoupled with said chain and a second leg extending outwardly from saidfirst leg and the chain for shifting of the latter in response toswinging movement of said lever; a glow discharge lamp having a pair ofterminals; means adapted for electrically coupling one terminal of thefilament lamp with one side of a source of electrical power; meanselectrically coupling the other terminal of the device with one of saidcontacts; means adapted for electrically coupling said pole piece withthe other side of said source;

conductive means having a pair of electrical conductors therein inelectrically insulated relationship, said conductive means dependingfrom said fixture, one of said conductors electrically coupling one ofsaid terminals of the glow discharge lamp with the other of saidcontacts, the other of said conductors being adapted for electricallycoupling the other of said terminals of the glow discharge lamp withsaid one side of said source; and connector means securing theconductive means intermediate the ends thereof to the outer extremity ofsaid second leg of the lever with sufiicient play being provided in saidconductive means between the fixture and said connector means to permitfree swinging movement of the lever about the axis of rotation thereofin response to downward pulling on said conductive means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,147,949 Keen July 27, 1915 1,434,727 Allen Nov. 7, 1922 2,134,695Bigman Nov. 1, 1938 2,214,317 Bash et al Sept. 10, 1948 2,528,555 SamsonNov. 7, 1950

